Guns and cash seized following search in Afton

AFTON – The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team and Norwich Police Department, executed a “no knock” search warrant at a Town of Afton residence Friday morning, leading to one arrest.

Authorities said the warrant stemmed from illegal drug activity at the residence.

During the search, police recovered more than six illegally possessed long guns, and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Allan G. Shepard, 53, was arrested and charged with criminal nuisance in the first degree, a class E felony; and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor.

According to authorities, Shepard has a prior felony conviction, which prevents him from legally possessing a firearm.

The criminal nuisance charge alleges that Shepard was using his residence as a place to engage in the unlawful sale of controlled substances.

He was arraigned in the Town of Afton Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $30,000 cash bail.

“This has been a problem with a group of people there for a long time,” said Chenango County Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting, Jr. “We are going to continue to work at stemming the drug trade in Chenango County.”